Swim School Ribbon Levels

Water Baby

Ribbon Level

Class Description

Water Baby

DACA Swim School offers Water Baby classes for babies and toddlers 3 months to 3 years old. Our 30 minute classes are designed to help introduce your baby to swimming skills through songs and games in a safe and warm environment.

Our indoor facility with 90° heated pools makes for an enjoyable swimming experience for parent and child any time of the year.

All DACA Swim School instructors have successfully completed the intensive DACA Swim School Certification Training Program. The Swim School deck staff is certified in both CPR and First Aid.

Ribbon Levels

Ribbon Level

Skills Mastered

Ribbon Objectives

Pink
(with fins)

A child is awarded a Pink ribbon when they:

Get into the water without mom or dad in a regular class with a teacher and 3 other children safely.

Or

To a graduate of the Water Baby and Transition program.

To earn their Rainbow ribbon a Pink swimmer must be able to complete the following skills unassisted:

Participate in a regular class safely.

Not cry for three weeks in a row.

Rainbow (with fins)

Awarded to a child who participates in a regular class safely and does not cry for three weeks in a row.

To earn their Green ribbon a Rainbow swimmer must be able to complete the following skills unassisted:

Be able to hold their breath, submerge (face down), and swim 10 feet comfortably and happily using dog paddle and kicks.

Green (with fins)

Awarded to a child who is able to hold their breath, submerge (face down), and swim 10 feet comfortably and happily using dog paddle and kicks.

To earn their Blue ribbon a Green swimmer must be able to complete the following skills unassisted:

Be able to swim dog paddle with fins, taking five “up-face” breaths without panicking.

Be able to jump from the side of the pool without fins, turn around, swim back to the wall and climb out on their own

Blue (with fins)

Blue-2: A Blue-2 swimmer can take five “up-face” breaths comfortably while wearing two fins.

Blue-1: A Blue-1 swimmer can take five “up-face” breaths comfortably while wearing one fin.

Blue-0: A Blue-0 swimmer can take five “up-face” breaths comfortably while wearing no fins.

To earn their Red ribbon a Blue swimmer must be able to complete the following skills unassisted and without fins:

Starfish float on my back for 10 seconds without assistance.

Swim one length of the pool alternating (rolling) between my tummy and back (Peanut Butter and Jelly) while remaining horizontal on the surface.

Swim/kick one length of the pool on my back (Peanut Butter/ wave to the fish).

Red

A Red swimmer can comfortably swim one length of the pool without wearing fins while demonstrating the following skills:

Peanut Butter and Jelly (alternating/rolling between their tummy and back).

Peanut Butter (Swim/kick on my back only)

Up-Face breaths (Pop-ups)

To earn their White ribbon a Red swimmer must be able to complete the following skills unassisted:

Dive from the side of the pool in good form.

Surface dive to the bottom of the deep pool and retrieve objects.

Swim 20 feet completely submerged under water.

Tread water for one minute (kick and scull).

White

A White swimmer can comfortably complete the skills listed above as well as demonstrate the following skills:

Tread water for one minute.

Dive from the edge of the pool in good form.

Retrieve objects from the bottom of the pool.

Swim 20 feet under water.

To earn their Purple ribbon a White swimmer must be able to complete the following skills unassisted:

Swim one length of the pool freestyle in good form and with proper side breathing technique.

Swim one length of the pool backstroke in good form (no catch up arms).

Kick one length of the pool with a kick board using legal dolphin kick.

Purple

A Purple swimmer can comfortably complete the skills listed above as well as demonstrate the following skills:

Swim one length of the pool freestyle while maintaining proper form, body position and breathing technique. (No catch up style strokes allowed).

Swim one length of the pool backstroke while maintaining proper form and body position. (No catch up arms allowed).

Dolphin kick with a kick board.

To earn their Orange ribbon a Purple swimmer must be able to complete the following skills unassisted:

Swim two continuous lengths of the pool freestyle in good form (proper side breathing, no catch-up arms).

Swim two continuous lengths of the pool elementary backstroke.

Swim 45 feet completely submerged under water.

Swim one length of the pool sidestroke.

Orange

An Orange swimmer can comfortably complete the skills listed above as well as demonstrate the following skills:

To earn their Gold Starfish Award an Orange swimmer must be able to swim one legal length (as defined by USA Swimming) of each of the four competitive strokes:

Freestyle

Backstroke

Breaststroke

Butterfly

Gold Starfish

A Gold swimmer can comfortably complete the skills listed above as well as demonstrate the following skills as defined by USA Swimming:

Swim one length of the pool:

Freestyle

Backstroke

Breaststroke

Butterfly

Swimmers who have earned their Gold Starfish award may further their swimming skills by trying out for the Pre-Competitive/ Competitive swimming programs. Please visit the DACA website for the Pre-Competitive evaluation dates (http://www.daca.org/ Evaluations.html) or speak to the office staff to request an evaluation at the Swim Center.

Adult Classes

Ribbon Level

Class Description

Adult

Novice classes are designed for adults with little to no experience in the water. Instructors work at each student’s pace to gain confidence in the water through safe, comfortable exercises. Students work on breath control, proper kicking techniques, and floating.

Intermediate classes build on skills learned in the Novice class. Students work on developing their freestyle by adding arm strokes and side breathing as well as safety skills such as treading water and floating.

Advanced classes focus primarily on developing advanced freestyle. If desired, the instructor can also work with the student on backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, diving, and flip turns.